“Planning appeals are normally heard by a planning inspector but the government announced that fracking appeals would be decided by the Secretary of State, thus denying the public its democratic right to influence decisions.

“Shale gas fracking is very different from the single nodding donkey oil wells scattered around the county.

“It operates on an industrial scale and is classed as a ‘hazardous industry’.

“Each ‘frac’ well will extract a small amount of gas so multiple wells must be fracked at each site.

“As each shale pocket is exhausted the operation must move to another site for multiple wells to be drilled.

“If sanctioned, we would see widescale industrialisation of Lincolnshire.”

The group also claims that licences for exploration are being given before the Government and planning authorities are aware of the potential risks involved.

The statement added: “To a great extent, the industry is self-regulating.

“Recent flooding has shown that regulatory agencies are under pressure and at times unable to keep people safe.

“The government and the extreme energy extraction industry perpetuate many myths to justify the need to frack under our countryside.”

The group disputed whether fracking would lead to new jobs and said evidence from other countries suggested otherwise.

The statement concluded: “Fracked gas is not a bridge to a greener future.

“The Government’s own energy committee states yield is too uncertain to be relied on and development would take 10-15 years.

“Renewable energy sources are available now, prices have fallen dramatically, and many communities have started their own clean energy projects.

“The huge sums of tax payers money supporting the fracking industry by subsidy and tax breaks would be better invested in renewables which would create thousands of jobs.”

For more information youcan contact the group on Facebook and email frackfreekirtoninlindsey@gmail.com or call 01673 818272.